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Know the Press!

© Hunter

Do you have all the press you can get?

Is it acceptable that not one single word has been written about you??

As Belke on Perfect Strangers would say, "Of course not, don't be ridiculous!!"

The problem as I see it is getting attention from the press when larger races are the draw.

One thing you must remember is that news in these campaigns is largely the reporting of conflict. As you have probably heard before, "It doesn't matter what they say about you as long as they spell your name right!" These days that is not always a correct assumption, but it does have merit.

A month or so before the campaign, you should write up a press release or call a press conference or make a statement at a public debate. Something newsworthy.

The perfect item to bring to public attention would be some issue that you are in direct conflict with your opponent on. Never, ever, call a press conference and not have something newsworthy to say!

Get to know members of the press well enough that you could call one of them up and ask them if what you are planning is newsworthy. They will tell you.

You must be sure the candidate has met personally every reporter, every editorial page editor, every local radio news reporter and every other media person in your town.

If we are talking about a statewide race, I am assuming that your campaign has TV spots, so that makes it even more important for you to stay on top of the newspaper endorsements.

Political candidates can take a few lessons from the business sector in dealing with the press. I interviewed James J. Mauro, Product Manager, Color Systems, Heidelberg USA, and he shared with me his methods:

1. Develop relationships with reporters.

2. Be kind to the press.

3. Be honest with the press.

4. Let the press see your enthusiasm and belief in what you are selling or verbalizing.

5. The most convincing person is one who believes in what they are doing and shows it.

6. Be knowledgeable about the publication or station that the reporter works for. It provides the opportunity to talk a little about what they do: and remember that people like to talk about themselves.

7. Let them lead the conversation, but get your point across.

   I want to take this opportunity to thank James J. Mauro for sharing his expertise with us. Thank you, James.

   The press will normally give you until about 48 hours before the election, but then it will really cut its stories.

   Another thing to remember is if you are

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